The Siege of Plei Me: The Prelude to the Battle of Ia Drang

The Siege of Plei Me (Trận bao vây Plei Me) from October 19–25, 1965, marked the opening phase of the first significant clash between the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and the United States Army during the Vietnam War. The siege was lifted through a combined effort of South Vietnamese forces and American airpower, leading to an extended pursuit of the retreating North Vietnamese forces from October 28 to November 12. These events set the stage for the decisive Battle of Ia Drang.

The Plei Me Special Forces Camp, built in October 1963, was located 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Pleiku and less than 32 kilometers (20 miles) from the Cambodian border in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. It was one of several U.S. Army Special Forces outposts tasked with securing Montagnard loyalty to South Vietnam, while also gathering intelligence on North Vietnamese infiltration via the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

By 1965, the camp was manned by over 400 Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) soldiers, primarily Montagnards of the Jarai ethnic group, alongside 12 American Special Forces troops from the 5th Special Forces Group and 14 ARVN Special Forces soldiers. When the attack began, approximately 300 Montagnards, 14 ARVN troops, and 10 Americans were inside the camp, while others were on patrol or stationed at nearby listening posts.

Major General Chu Huy Mân, commanding PAVN forces, sought to eliminate Special Forces outposts, preparing the way for an assault on Pleiku city—the headquarters of ARVN’s II Corps. His ultimate goal was to secure control of Highway 19, which connected Pleiku to South Vietnam’s coastal regions.

By late 1965, Mân commanded the 32nd (or 320th) and 33rd Regiments, totaling about 4,200 men. Another regiment, the 66th, was expected to arrive by early November. The offensive was initially scheduled for December 1965, with the Chu Pong massif, near the Vietnam-Cambodia border, serving as a staging area. However, Mân launched his attack earlier than planned on October 19, using only the 32nd and 33rd Regiments, likely to strike before U.S. forces were fully combat-ready.

At 19:00 on October 19, a Montagnard patrol was ambushed near Plei Me, signaling an impending attack. By 22:00, a PAVN company overran an outpost southwest of the camp, followed by a full-scale assault after midnight from multiple directions using small arms, mortars, and recoilless rifles. Some attackers even breached the defensive perimeter.

U.S. Special Forces Captain Harold M. Moore, commanding the camp, called in airstrikes, which began at 04:00 on October 20 and continued throughout the battle. Meanwhile, in Pleiku, U.S. and ARVN commanders determined that reinforcements were essential.

A relief force of 175 troops, primarily ARVN Rangers, was led by Major Charles A. Beckwith and airlifted near Plei Me on October 21. After reaching the camp the following day, Beckwith attempted a counterattack against the besieging forces but suffered heavy casualties, forcing his troops back inside the camp.

Meanwhile, supply drops from U.S. CV-2 Caribou, CV-7 Buffalo, and C-123 aircraft provided munitions, medical supplies, and rations. However, some supplies fell outside the perimeter, and two defenders were killed when a pallet accidentally landed on them.

The battle at Plei Me became the largest air support operation of the war up to that point, with 696 air sorties delivering over 1.5 million pounds of bombs, napalm, and rockets. Despite intense anti-aircraft fire, U.S. planes and helicopters continued their missions, inflicting severe losses on the PAVN forces.

General Vĩnh Lộc, commander of ARVN II Corps, decided to engage the PAVN forces in a relief effort. On October 20, an armored task force of 1,400 men, led by Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Trọng Luật, was assembled in Pleiku. While pretending to advance towards Plei Me, the column actually lingered near Phú Mỹ, drawing PAVN attention.

On October 23, while advancing toward Plei Me, the relief column was ambushed in two locations by PAVN forces at 17:30. Despite suffering heavy casualties, the ARVN troops, supported by U.S. airstrikes, repelled the attack, forcing the PAVN to retreat westward by the morning of October 24. Finally, on October 25, the ARVN column arrived at Plei Me, officially lifting the siege.

With the siege lifted, elements of the 1st Cavalry Division were deployed to Plei Me, and General William Westmoreland visited the camp. On October 26, U.S. and ARVN commanders decided to pursue the retreating PAVN forces. The 1st Cavalry Division, led by Brigadier General Richard T. Knowles, initiated Operation Long Reach, which included:

• All the Way (1st Brigade, October 27–November 9)
• Silver Bayonet I (3rd Brigade, November 9–17)
• Silver Bayonet II (2nd Brigade, November 18–26)

On November 1, 1st Cavalry forces discovered a PAVN hospital and killed 99 enemy soldiers, while suffering 11 U.S. casualties. Over the next two weeks, battles erupted between U.S. and PAVN forces, with significant American airmobile operations and counter-ambushes.

By November 10, intelligence pinpointed the three PAVN regiments' locations, confirming that the 66th Regiment had arrived. On November 12, orders were given for a major air assault into the Chu Pong massif, setting the stage for the Battle of Ia Drang (November 14–18, 1965).